For Alabama star freshmen, acclimating to the powerhouse can be the tough part

Freshman year is tough for all signees, but it can be especially difficult to get settled at Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Forget for a moment the awesome power that is Alabama. It all has to start somewhere.

That being a freshman's first glimpse at what exactly he is getting into.

"It's like your first time going to Dubai," said rising junior tailback Bo Scarbrough. "I've never been to Dubai."

Wait, what? Dubai? Alabama football has been compared to many things but never the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates.

"I know if I get to Dubai [it would be like] 'I can't believe that I'm here,'" Scarbrough said. "[Freshmen] can't believe that they're actually here playing under coach Nick Saban."

For the record, Scarbrough is a Tuscaloosa native. He knows nothing else. As a five-star freshman, he ran for 104 yards in 2015. His role expanded in 2016 (812 yards) to the point that Alabama might have the best running back depth in the country.

But being that close to Alabama didn't mean he was that close to Alabama football.

That is significant because another top-rated recruiting class has been welcomed in. At the top are five-stars quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and running back Najee Harris, considered by some to be the top recruit in the country.

Tagovailoa is from Hawaii. Harris is from California. Those are two of the 16 early enrollees at Alabama. Saban said at the 2017 SEC Media Days on Wednesday that this is at least his youngest team since 2012.

It's still Alabama and everyone else. The Tide will be the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC and should start the season No. 1.

"Most of the time when young guys from other states see the University of Alabama, it's so big it's shocking," Scarbrough said. "You've got to snap back into reality and bring it down and know what 'The Process' is and buy in to it.

"To some guys, it's still unbelievable because you're on this dominant team. You come onto a team that won four national championships over the last [eight years]. … There are so many great athletes. [They think], 'I want to be part of that someday.'"

Tagovailoa seems mature beyond his years. His presence here sort of contradicts the modern quarterback culture. He could go almost anywhere else and be a starter relatively soon. At Alabama, Tagovailoa faces the possibility of playing behind SEC Offensive Player of the Year Jalen Hurts for three years.

"You want to go to a place where you're just able to compete in every aspect," Tagovailoa said during a media availability at a California quarterback retreat this summer. "Going to Alabama kind of helps with all of those. It checked off all the boxes.

"When you're in class, you're with people that are gymnasts, people that are softball, basketball, baseball [players]. It gives you an opportunity to compete with them in the class as well. And then you go to football, [and] You compete against the best in the nation."

Tagovailoa is all-in. His family has moved here (minus his father who stayed back in Hawaii.) He created a stir when he threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns (mostly against the No. 2 defense) in the spring game.

If it's all about competition, might as well start watching it play out at the quarterback position. Tua isn't intimidated by any of it. 

"I think every player is recognized [on campus], not just me," Tagovailoa said. "Football over there is a religion. It's the biggest thing they have over there besides God … and Saban."